Cable clamp



oct. 1s, 1949.. R. HOF'FMAN 2,485,445

CABLE CLAMP I Filed 001'.. 5, 1945 l IN1/EN TOR. ROBERT HOFFMAN A 7'TORA/Eys Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATI-:s PATENT oFFlcE RobertHoffman, San Francisco, Calif. Application october 5, 1945,"seria1No-620,450

VThis invention relates to improvements in cable clamps.

The primary vobject of the invention resides in a cable clamp whicheffects a tight sure grip of the cable for the same operates on aclamping grip principle as distinguished from the conventional frictiongrip heretofore embodied in cable clamps.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a cable clamp in whichthe looped eye-forming end of a cable is securely held againstaccidental slipping, thus eliminating the danger of accidents caused byslipping when the cable is in use under the stress of a heavy load.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a cable clampwhich is simple and inexpensive of construction, easy to assemble andapply to a cable for use, and which is not injurious to the cable towhich it is applied in use.

Other novel features of the invention will ber come apparent as thefollowing specification is read in conjunction' with the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cable clamp in use upon a loopedcable. p

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 with the cable omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the clamp with the clamping jaw sectionin swung open position.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral II)designates my improved cable clamp in its entirety which includes a pairof separable complementary jaw members II and I2 formed of metalforging.

The jaw member II is provided with spaced parallel gripping channelsI3'--I3', on the inner side thereof, the inner face of the intermediateportion I4 being flat. Equidistantly spaced threaded holes I5, I5a andI5b are provided in the intermediate portion I4 and the same extend fromthe fiat inner face IIc to the exterior of the member II. The opposedsides IIa and IIb of the member I I are provided with spaced hingeknuckles I6 and II. The knuckles I6 and I1 are staggered relative toeach other for reasons to be hereinafter explained.

The jaw member I2 is similar to the jaw member II with sides I2a and I2band is provided with spaced parallel gripping channels IIl-I8' on theinner side thereof, the inner side of the intermediate portion I9 beingflat. Spaced slots 20, a and Zb are provided in the intermediate portionI9 and extend from the flat inner face l2' 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-135) 2 tothe exterior of the member I2. The outer ends 20 ofthe slots 20 flareoutwardly as best illustrated in Figure 2. When the members I I and I2are in assembled relation, the slots 20'respectively register with thethreaded holes I5 while the gripping channels I3-I3' and I8-I8 arerespectively opposed with the confronting flat surfaces of theintermediate portions I4 and I9 in spaced relation.

`The opposed sides of the jaw member I2 are provided with spaced hingeknuckles 2| and 22, the same being staggered relative to each other forrespective interfitting relation `with the knuckles I'l and IB of thejaw member I I. Except for the threaded holes I5l and slots 20, the jawmembers II and I2 are identical and in manufacture they may be cast fromthe same mold, there being no necessity of rights and lefts. The holesand slots may be formed after the molding operation.

When assembled for use as shown in Figure 4, the knuckles 2I of memberI2 are intertted with the knuckles II of member II land a hinge pin 23is inserted through the alined holes therein indicated at 23 in Figure4, and the ends of the same headed or peened. The hngedly connected jawmembers II and I2 may now be fitted about the `cable A and its loopedend portion B, with the same respectively seated in the grippingchannels I3-I3'. The jaw member I2 may now be swung to closed positionover the member I I whereupon the cable A and portion B thereof alsoseat in the gripping channels I8-I8. The knuckles 22 and I6 now interiitand a locking pin 24 is inserted through the alined holes therein. Theclamp I0 is now in locked position about the cable A and its looped endportion B and in order to draw the jaw members II and I2 into tightclamping engagement with the cable portions, headed screws 25 areinserted through the slots 2D and have their threaded Shanks screwedinto the threaded holes I5. As the screws are turned by a wrench orpliers, the intermediate portions I4 and I9 are exed inwardly causingthe gripping channels I3-I3 and I8-I8 to tightly embrace the cable A andcable portion B in such manner as to prevent accidental slippage betweenthe cable and the clamp I0. For increasing the gripping action the wallsof the gripping channels I3I3' and I8-I8 are provided with ribs 26 whichare disposed at an angle relative to the length of the channels andwhich bite into the cable portions gripped thereby.

The pin 23 is closely fitted to the holes in the knuckles I6 and 22 soas not to accidentally slide therefrom when the clamp I0 is in use. Thetension between the jaw members also acts to prevent accidental shiftingof the pin 24.

Whereas Figure 1 shows the use of the clamp l0 for gripping the loopedend of a cable to form an eye C, the same may be used in other instanceswhere two lengths of cable are to be tightly gripped for effecting aconnection therebetween. The gripping action set up by the clamp I0 doesnot crimp the -cable which is objectionable in the types of cable clampsnow in use.

While I have shown and described what I oonsider to be the mostpractical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood thatsuch changes in construction, design, and materials as come within thescope of the appended claim may be resorted to if desired withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

A cable clamp comprising a pair of complementary clamping jaw members,each of said jaw members having spaced apart hinge knuckles along theirside edges, the knuckles on one side being staggered relative to theknuckles on the othei side, said jaw members being arranged with theknuckles of one member interfltting with spaces adjacent those of theother member, so that the knuckles of the two members are aiined alongeach 80 edge, locking pins extending through the alined knuckles, eachof the jaw members having a pair of spaced apart ribbed, inwardly facingcable gripping channels, the gripping channels of one member beingopposed to those of the other member and registering therewith, theintermediate portions of the jaw-members between each pair of grippingchannels being spaced apart, one of said portions having threadedopenings and the other havingv holes alined with said openings, saidholes being enlarged at their outer ends to form transverse slots', andscrew means in said holes and openings for connecting the intermediateportions of the jaw members together and for flexibly drawing thechannels and intermediate portions of the members toward each other toeffect a clamping action between the jaw members and portions of cabledisposed in the gripping channels.

ROBERT HOFFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UN'I'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 248,472 Johnson Oct. 18, 1881626,223 Cramp June 6, 1899 895,397 Brazelle Aug. 4, 1908 1,388,692Blacser Aug. 23, 1921 1,420,790 Varney June 27, 1922 1,767,432 CaulkinsJune 24, 1930 2,026,824 Cooper J an. 7, 1936 2,044,679 Frese June 16,1936

